It was bound to happen: 3D printing has become front-and-center in New York’s fashion scene. The Big Apple hosted a three-day event that included a showcase on 3D-printed apparel. Designers included Catherine Wales of the UK, Kay Kwok of China, and the States’ own Frances Guevara. Jewelry, gowns, and shows were all on display, reflecting the fashion world’s eclectic style. Given how little of the high-end fashion scene ever makes it to production, there’s slim chance these flamboyant works will ever be seen on the street. (That may not be such a bad thing.) Even so,...

It’s funny how some of our high-tech tools and techniques borrow names from the past–just look at the tablet and bluetooth. Turns out that isn’t the only flash from the past finding newfound relevance today. Staff at the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) looked towards the ancient Chinese woodblock printing technique in order to develop a new form of bioprinting called Block-Cell-Printing (or BloC for short). The team use a silicon mold to press cells onto a surface, much in the way that ancient printers pressed an inked image or text onto paper. According to the...

Many of us recall a childhood fantasy of creating toys whenever we wanted. After all, there were limits to our parents’ wallets (and patience). Hasbro’s bringing us one step closer thanks to a partnership with 3D Systems. The two companies are teaming up to design and manufacture kid-friendly 3D printers. Though no model has been previewed, the printers would likely feature basic controls and a simplified (but restricted) program for uploading and printing designs. One can almost sense the déjà vu–it was three decades ago that the Commodore 64 became the kid-friendly...